Blues Beat: Don’t miss B. Willie Smith in Hamden

Contributed photoB Willie Smith's last club date, members say, takes place Friday, July 8 at the Outer Space ballroom in Hamden.

Contributed photoB Willie Smith's last club date, members say, takes place Friday, July 8 at the Outer Space ballroom in Hamden.

Photo: Journal Register Co.

Photo: Journal Register Co.

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Contributed photoB Willie Smith's last club date, members say, takes place Friday, July 8 at the Outer Space ballroom in Hamden.

Contributed photoB Willie Smith's last club date, members say, takes place Friday, July 8 at the Outer Space ballroom in Hamden.

Photo: Journal Register Co.

Blues Beat: Don’t miss B. Willie Smith in Hamden

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After many years, B. Willie Smith, one of Connecticut’s all-time great bluesy club bands, is playing its last few shows, at least for the foreseeable future (never say never). The band’s last club date will be Friday, July 8 at The Outer Space Ballroom in Hamden.

The band started in high-school, North Haven Class of 1973, they shared a common interest in Chicago Blues and Hank Williams Sr. style of stripped down Country. They started out playing in a room off their guitarist’s garage every Sunday night in 1971. It was friends getting together for the pure fun of it. The guys were very content to play just for themselves and, in fact, actually discouraged friends from coming by.

The first “job” as B. Willie Smith was in 1972 — they were all 17 years old — at a small bar in North Haven called The Black Stallion for 10 bucks a guy. They packed the place with 50 people. From that start, they went on to record 2 LPs and toured up and down the East Coast for years — and gained a place in Connecticut music history.

They have a six-piece lineup for reunion gigs and private parties: Bruce Smith is on drums, in addition to his major charisma and smooth as silk vocals; Bruce William aka B. Willie; Jerry Connolly, who sits on drums and comes out from behind them for sizzling, blues-soaked harmonica and vocals.

On the keys is Mike Cavadini, who does some vocals and switches to alto sax to join the B. Willie Horns.

Bob Elliott is on bass and vocals. His songwriting skills put many of his own songs on display. The big man on tenor sax, trumpet, keyboards, and vocals is Bill Holloman.

Opening the show are The Cobalt Rhythm Kings, which over the years has become sort of the unofficial opener for B. Willie’s New Haven reunion shows. They are getting ready to celebrate their 20th year, they play real-deal blues.

On Saturday, Infinity Music Hall Norfolk has Los Lonely Boys. Coming from San Angelo, Texas, Los Lonely Boys are a sibling trio whose music draws equally from rock, blues, Tex-Mex, conjunto and tejano. When listening to Los Lonely Boys’ new material, one hears a throwback to their rowdy, bar band roots and adherence to its no-genre-can-contain-us mentality.

Thursday, Infinity Music Hall Hartford has The Daughters of Rhythm & Blues. The daughters of two legendary superstars, Rhonda Ross (Diana Ross) and Carla Cooke (Sam Cooke) are bring the legacy of their rich heritage to the Infinity Hall stage.

The Bristol Swedish Social Club is putting on one of its well known Pig Roasts on Saturday. Combine the food with some high energy rockin’ blues, in this case Comstock Station, and you are going to leave happy. Activities start at 2 p.m.

Powder Ridge has a Summer Concert Series on Saturday. The Basically Blues Band will be there this week. You can also catch then at The Westbrook Elks Club on from 1-5 p.m.

The Acoustic Café has two shows this week. Sunday, The Marcus King Band comes to town. The young songwriter Marcus King’s debut album, Soul Insight, is out now via Evil Teen Records. It displays his stunning command of rock, blues, psychedelia, funk, soul and improvisation. all done with a distinctly Southern musical accent. It also brings the 19-year-old a step closer to his musical destiny.

Joe Krown handles the Hammond B-3. Walter “Wolfman” Washington is on guitar and vocals, and Russell Batiste plays drums and background vocals. They started playing together in March 2007. The trio has been performing every Sunday at a local New Orleans nightclub, the Maple Leaf Bar. The combination of the soulful vocals of Washington with the big sound of the Hammond B-3 (which Krown also plays all of the bass parts on the B-3) and the masterful drumming skills of Batiste has developed its own unique sound.

Saturday it is Sailfest in New London. Jeff Pitchell will be joined by The Legends, the daughters of Ray Charles and BB King, Sheila Raye Charles and Claudette King.

Mitch Leighton will be at the RedZone Grille in Plainville for Rockin’ Wednesday. The fun starts at 8 pm.

The Back Porch keeps its music schedule busy. On Sunday, Kathy Thompson plays, followed Thursdayby Jim Shepley.

The D Smith Blues Band makes a Sunday stop at The Brass Horse Café at 3 p.m.